A file photo of Dr. K. Kasturirangan (centre) visiting Gundya in Sakaleshpur taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka. He was the author of the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats, which in 2013, identified an area of 59,940 sq. km of natural landscape of Western Ghats, spread across 6 States as ecologically sensitive.
| Photo Credit: Prakash Hassan

Former ISRO chairman Dr. K Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru on April 25. He was 84 years old.

According to a statement from ISRO: “Dr. K. Kasturirangan has left for heavenly abode this morning at 10. 43 am at his residence in Bengaluru. His body will be kept in RRI for paying last respects on Sunday April 27th from 1000- 1200 hrs.”

Dr. Kasturirangan served as the fifth chairman of ISRO between 1994-2003, and also as the Secretary, Department of Space for over nine years.

During his four-decade-long career in ISRO, he was part of several key missions. He was the project director of India’s first two experimental earth observation satellites BHASKARA-I & II. He steered the first operational Indian Remote Sensing satellite IRS-1A.

A recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, Dr. Kasturirangan got his Bachelor of Science with Honours and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Bombay University. He received his Doctorate Degree in Experimental High Energy Astronomy in 1971 while working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

When he served as ISRO chairman, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was launched and operationalised. The first successful flight testing of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) took place unders hip his leadership.

ISRO states that as the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, he oversaw the activities related to the development of new generation spacecraft, Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS-1A & 1B), as well as scientific satellites.

“He has also overseen the design, development and launching of the world’s best civilian satellites, IRS-1C and 1D, realisation of the second generation and initiation of third generation INSAT satellites, besides launching ocean observation satellites IRS-P3/P4. These efforts have placed India as a pre-eminent space-faring nation among the handful of six countries that have major space programmes,” states his profile on the space agency’s website.

Dr. Kasturirangan served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, and was a member of the Planning Commission during the UPA government.

More recently, Dr. Kasturirangan chaired the drafting committee for the National Education Policy 2020, and headed the 12-member steering committee responsible for developing a new National Curriculum Framework.

He was the author of the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats, which in 2013, identified an area of 59,940 sq. km of natural landscape of Western Ghats, spread across Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra as ecologically sensitive.

Beyond the app experience, Google is also working on embedding AI capabilities directly into devices through smaller language models [File]
| Photo Credit: AP

A recently released study by Google in collaboration with Kantar India has shed light on the evolving landscape of Generative AI (GenAI) adoption within the country. While excitement surrounding the technology is growing, significant barriers to entry remain, particularly concerning awareness and ease of use. However, early adopters of Google’s Gemini platform are reporting substantial benefits, suggesting a potential pathway for wider acceptance if these hurdles can be addressed – with Google actively working to simplify access and expand capabilities.

The study, conducted between November 2024 and March 2025, involved over 8,000 face-to-face interviews across 18 cities from different town classes. The survey targeted respondents (referred to as ‘Indian’ in the report) aged 18-44 years, males & females from socioeconomic class A & B households.

While enthusiasm for AI is building, the study revealed a significant knowledge gap. Three out of five Indians aren’t familiar with what AI is or does, and less than one in three have tried using any Generative AI tool. Three-fourths of those not actively using GenAI cite challenges related to understanding how to access and use these tools.

Recognising this challenge, Google is focusing on streamlining its AI offerings into a more user-friendly experience. “We have started to integrate so many of those [GenAI] capabilities. Now, you’re increasingly beginning to see a single app. The Gemini app has all of these capabilities built in,” Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind said in an exclusive interview with The Hindu.

This consolidation aims to eliminate the confusion often associated with disparate AI services and provide users with a central hub for their generative AI needs.

To further enhance accessibility, Google is prioritising multimodal interaction “So users can ask them [AI] with a few prompts,” Mr. Gupta noted. This means users will be able to interact with Gemini using text, voice, and visual inputs, making it more intuitive for a wider range of users.

Another area Google is focusing on is inclusivity through language support. “Our team has been hard at work,” Mr. Gupta emphasised, “We can understand over 100 Indian languages and improve quality [of AI output].” This helps the company in localising AI advances particularly in India where English proficiency isn’t universal.

Beyond the app experience, Google is also working on embedding AI capabilities directly into devices through smaller language models. This helps improve performance and reduce reliance on constant internet connectivity, making Gemini more accessible even in areas with limited bandwidth.

Despite the challenges in accessing AI technologies, early adopters are already finding practical applications for Gemini. The study details diverse use cases including researching complex topics, assisting with academic assignments, planning travel itineraries, getting ‘how-to’ guides, professional email assistance, shopping recommendations, image generation, coding support, and even culinary exploration. 75% of Indians feel the need for a daily growth collaborator in their lives to help them excel, and Gemini appears poised to fill that role.

“For those who have gotten past the initial barriers, the impact of GenAI often goes beyond just task completion – it’s making a difference in how they feel about their own capabilities,” Google said as part of the study report.

The Google-Kantar study paints a picture of cautious optimism regarding GenAI in India. While significant hurdles remain in terms of awareness and usability, Google seeks to streamline its offerings, prioritize localized language support, and integrate AI directly into devices are crucial steps towards unlocking the technology’s full potential as a “daily growth collaborator” for Indians across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Further insights into Gen Z versus Millennial perspectives on everyday challenges are expected to be released in the full report.